Daily Republican., 1887-05-04

me lOilOWlHS IL from inc sherman
article in the North American Review
In 1861 Gen. Lee was colonel of cav.
airy on leave of absence at his home
at Arlington, and U. S. Grant was an
humble citizen at Galena, ILL.,. toiling
to support his family. He at first gave
little heed to the political murmurs
creeping over the land by reason of
the election OF Mr.. Lincoln and the
talk OF secession at the South, but
when the telegraph announced that
the United States flag had been fired
on in Charleston harb0r he reused up,
presided at a public meeting of his
fellow citizens. instructed them how to
organize themselves into q company
OF soldiers and went along with them
to Springfield. In due time he was
made colonel of regiment of volun-
teers, conducted it to Missouri, and in
December, 1861, reached Cairo, III.
His career from that date to this is ia :
milar to every schoolboy in the land.
He moved in cooperation with the
gun-boat fleet up the Tennessee to
Fort Henry, which he captured; to
Fort Donelson, where o fortified place
with its entire garrison of 1900 men
surrendered without conditions; then
on to shiloh, where one OF the
bloodiest and most successful battles of
the war was fought, which first con-
WINGED our Southern brethren, who
had been taught that one Southern
man was equal TO five Yankees, that
man TO man was all they wanted
then Vicksburg, Chattanooga, every
where victorious, everywhere success
full, fulfilling the wise conclusions of
MIR. Lincoln that he wanted military
success Then he was called for the
first time in his life to Washington to
command an army of perfect strangers
under new conditions in strange
country. Casting his thoughts over a
continent, giving minute Instructions
for several distinct armies from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande, himself
the hardest share, he began
u campaign equal in strategy, in logis
tics and in tactics to any of Napoleon,
and grander than ever contemplated
by England. His personal action in
crossing the Rapidan In the face of
Lees army, fighting him in the Will
dcrness, forward by the left flank"
to Spottsylvania, TO Richmond and
Petersburg, was the sublimity of hero.
ism.
OF course he had superiority OF
numbers and resources, but nothing
like the disproportion stated by Gen.
Wolscley. AT Vicksburg he began in
May, 1868, the movement with less
numbers than Pemberton surrendered
to him along with Vicksburg in July.
At Chattanooga he attacked his enemy
in the strongest position possible--so
strong, indeed, that Bragg, a most
thorough and intelligent soldier, re-
garded it as unassailable and had de-
tached Longstreet's corps to Knox
vile, OF which mistake Grant took
prompt advantage, and l never heard
before that Bragg thought the pursuit
after his defeat was not quick and
good enough to suit HIM, and, finally,
when Lee was forced to flee from his
intrenchments at Richmond and
Petsburg by Sheridan's bold and skill
full action at Five Forks, believe 1t
is conceded that the pursuit by Sheri-
dan and Grant was so rapid that Lee
was comp He'd to surrender his whole
army. Grants strategy" embraced
u continent, Lees small State:
Grants "logistics" were TO supply and
transport armies thousands of miles.
where Lee was limited TO hundreds.
Grant had to conquer natural obsta-
Giles as well as hostile armies and a |
hostile people; his "taciics" were to |
fight wherever and whenever he could |
capture or cripple his adversary
and his resources, and when Lee
laid down his arms and surrendered, |
Grant. by the stroke of his pen, ON the |
instant gave him and his men terms |
70 liberal as to disarm all criticism. !
Between these two men as generals |
will not institute comparison, for the |
mere statement of the case establishes
contrast.